‘It was a hundred and forty pounds. You won more at the Christmas raffle.’
‘Oh.’ He folded his arms. ‘That’s a lot more boring.’
‘Which is why Barb didn’t tell you the amount.’
‘What can I do for you, then? We don’t often see a Parsley’s uniform this side of the tracks.’
‘Is it too late to buy a ticket for the ten past five to Siskin?’
‘If check-in is still open, it’s not too late. Hang on.’ He tapped away on his screen for a minute. ‘Your luck continues. We have plenty of space.’
‘How much is it?’
He peered at me over the top of orange glasses. ‘One two seven for the seat. Do you want to check in a bag?’
‘Um. No?’
‘A return flight?’
I shook my head. Ivor gave Pip a sidelong glance.
‘I don’t know what day I’m returning yet. It’s just a holiday. I am coming back!’
‘Oka-a-a-a-ay.’ He didn’t sound convinced.
I stood there, my brain freefalling as he booked the ticket and checked me in.
As soon as Ivor handed me the boarding pass, I slammed into reality.
‘What do I do now?’
‘Head to Security.’ Pip led me away from the desk, as a family were now waiting behind us.
I stopped dead a few metres away. ‘No. I mean… my house. My business. My life…’
He bent his head to meet my eyes. ‘Okay, the first thing to do is breathe. Slowly. Slower. That’s better.’
I wasn’t in any fit state to explain that his soft blue gaze wasn’t helping me regain composure, even if I’d been bold enough.
Instead, I closed my eyes, tuned in to the familiar airport sounds, told myself that there was nothing stopping me from coming back on the first flight tomorrow, and accepted that, however this turned out, I simply couldn’t spend another day standing in the same nine-square-metre box, doing the same thing, wondering if there was a whole other life out there, waiting for me.
Besides, I’d made a promise.
‘Right.’ I opened my eyes again, tried to sound as if I weren’t completely freaking out. ‘First thing, the Travel Shop.’
I must have hurtled through Security in world-record-breaking time, arriving at the shop breathless and giddy.
‘I’m going.’
Blessing straightened up from where she’d been stacking Robin Hood mugs on a shelf, took one look at me, ordered Pip out of there, and got to work.
Fifteen miraculous minutes later, I had a carry-on suitcase that doubled as a rucksack, a large wash bag crammed with miniature toiletries, underwear and pyjamas, two summery dresses, pretty T-shirts, a pair of cotton shorts, jeans and a hoodie sayingStraight Outta Sherwood, because all the others were at least a size large. Blessing added a bikini and flip-flops, and declared me packed.
I handed her my house key. ‘I’ll send you a list when I’ve calmed down enough to think of one. The cottage is so small, you’ll have no problem finding whatever you need. If I leave youthe keys for Parsley’s, can you take whatever’s in the fridge? Oh, and my van is parked in the staff car park, but should be fine for a few days.’
‘Yes, brilliant, I’ll take care of everything, but we aren’t finished yet. You are not running off with a hot farmer in shoes that belong on a nun’s car-boot stall.’
‘I don’t have time!’
